Letter From David Brock RE: Armstrong Williams

[Sandpiper]

Letter from David Brock, RE: Armstrong Williams
January 7, 2005

Kevin Klose
President and Chief Executive
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

David D. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Roger E. Ailes
Chairman and CEO
FOX News Channel
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036

Jonathan Rodgers
CEO
TV One
101 Wayne Avenue, 10th floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910

David D. Williams
President and CEO
Tribune Media Services
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Dear Sirs:

I'm writing today to bring to your attention a report in the January 7 edition of USA Today that conservative commentator Armstrong Williams was paid $240,000 by the U.S. government to promote a Bush administration education initiative -- a financial relationship he failed to disclose to readers, listeners, and viewers.

If the facts as reported by USA Today are correct, Mr. Williams was being secretly paid by the Bush administration to promote government policies at the same time that he was participating in public debate on those policies. I presume that you are as troubled by this gross conflict of interest as I am. I respectfully ask that you immediately review your professional relationship with Mr. Williams and take whatever actions you may deem appropriate, including severing that relationship, on the grounds that Mr. Williams's integrity has been irrevocably damaged by taking money to influence the public debate without disclosing those payments.

In my view, the payments, if made -- as well as Mr. Williams's failure to disclose the payments -- would disqualify Mr. Williams from appearing in the media as an independent commentator.

Yours,

David Brock
President and CEO
Media Matters for America


http://mediamatters.org/items/200501070009

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. Excellent

.

[stevedeshazer]

2. Great letter

This should be broadcast far and wide.

[GOPFighter]

3. Brock is a man on fire

I'm really impressed by "Media Matters."

[JanMichael]

4. Good letter, I hope it has some effect.

[blm]

5. Isn't it illegal for BushInc to bribe media like this?

.

[Sandpiper]

6. Possibly a violation of "Publicity and Propaganda" Laws

According to Senators Reid, Kennedy, and Lautenberg

http://mediamatters.org/static/pdf/armstrong-senate.pdf

[Cha]

7. Why am I not surprised by this latest

Shyte from the bush goons?

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Nice letter, Brock.

[CornField]

9. I really admire David Brock

I never knew his personal story until a few weeks ago. Lots of love to him and his cause. Here's hoping Sinclair is just blowing steam up your ass.

[itzamirakul]

10. How many others have they paid?

I think Brock's letter is great, but I am wondering...if Williams was paid this princely sum how much are they paying Rush, Hannity, BO, Fat Tony Blakely and others?

If Williams, a black dude was paid $240,000 you can be sure that a few white guys/gals got the same or more (and more blacks too, I bet.)

On edit: Just one more post to go! 1000!

[MissWaverly]

11. your suggestion

Remember what they convicted Al Capone for, income tax evasion!